(Photo Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports)
Key Players Returning:
RB Kyle Monangai, TE Johnny Langan, OC Ireland Brown, OG Curtis Dunlap Jr., OT Hollin Pierce, DE Wesey Bailey, DE Aaron Lewis, DT Mayan Ahanotu, LB Deion Jennings, LB Tyreem Powell, CB Kessawn Abraham, CB Robert Longerbeam, CB Max Melton, NB Shaquan Loyal, FS Desmond Igbinosun and PK Jude McAtamney.
Key Players Departing:
WR/RS Aron Cruickshank, WR Shameen Jones, WR Sean Ryan, OG JD DiRenzo, OT Willie Tyler III, DT Ifeanyi Maijeh, CB Christian Braswell, NB Christian Izien, SS Avery Young and PT Adam Korsak.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: WR Naseim Brantley (Western Illinois transfer), CB Eric Rogers (Northern Illinois transfer), OL JaSire Peterson (Union City, New Jersey), DL Djibril Abdou Rahman (Montreal, Quebec, Canada), OT Nick Oliveira (Mullica Hill, New Jersey), OG John Stone (Sewell, New Jersey), DS Michael Dixon (Minnesota transfer), CB Bo Mascoe (Kissimmee, Florida), ATH Davoun Fuse (Washington, Pennsylvania) and ATH Deondre Johnson (Newburgh, New York).
2022 Results:
G01 @ Boston College W 22-21
G02 WAGNER W 66-7
G03 @ Temple W 16-14
G04 IOWA L 10-27
G05 @ #3 Ohio State L 10-49
G06 NEBRASKA L 13-14
G07 INDIANA W 24-17
G08 @ Minnesota L 0-31
G09 #5 MICHIGAN L 17-52
G10 @ Michigan State L 21-27
G11 #11 PENN STATE L 10-55
G12 @ Maryland L 0-37
Misc. Team Information:
2022 Record: 4-8 (7th in Big Ten East)
Home: 2-4
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
B10: 1-8
Non-B10: 3-1
Head Coach: Greg Schiano
Rutgers: 80-89
Career: 80-89
Bowls: 5-2
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Evan Simon (79-137, 777 yards, 57.7%, 5.7 avg., 4 TD, 6 INT)
Rushing: Kyle Monangai (109 car., 445 yards, 4.1 avg., 2 TD)
Receiving: Johnny Langan (31 rec., 296 yards, 9.5 avg., 1 TD)
TDs Scored: Sean Ryan (3)
Sacks: Wesley Bailey (3.5)
Tackles: Deion Jennings (91)
Tackles For Loss: Deion Jennings (8.5)
Interceptions: Robert Longerbeam/Max Melton (2)
Pass Deflections: Max Melton (10)
Forced Fumbles: 4 Tied (1)
Kick Returns: Joshua Youngblood (6 ret., 129 yards, 21.5 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Max Melton (1 ret., 28 yards, 28.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Jude McAtemney (12-18 fg/fga., 67%, 23-24 xp/xpa., 59 pts.)
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 2 Gavin Wimsatt (RS SO)
RB: 27 Samuel Brown V (SO)
WR: 28 Naseim Brantley (RS SR/TR)
WR: 3 Chris Long (JR)
WR: 9 JaQuae Jackson (SR/TR)
TE: 21 Johnny Langan (RS SR/TR)
LT: 72 Hollin Pierce (JR)
LG: 51 Curtis Dunlap Jr. (RS SR/TR)
OC: 57 Ireland Brown (SR/TR)
RG: 53 Mike Ciaffoni (RS SR/TR)
RT: 56 Tyler Needham (RS SO)
KR: 8 Rashad Rochelle (SO)
PK: 44 Jai Patel (RS FR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 71 Aaron Lewis (JR)
DT: 9 Isaiah Iton (SR/TR)
DT: 48 Kyonte Hamilton (JR)
DE: 23 Wesley Bailey (JR)
LB: 17 Deion Jennings (RS SR)
LB: 22 Tyreem Powell (JR)
LB: 1 Mohamed Toure (RS SR)
CB: 7 Robert Longerbeam (JR)
CB: 16 Max Melton (JR)
FS: 4 Desmond Igbinosun (JR)
SS: 10 Flip Dixon (SR/TR)
PR: 8 Rashad Rochelle (SO)
PT: 95 Flynn Appleby (RS FR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/02 NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS | Rutgers leads the series 3-2. The Scarlet Knights lost (7-21) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
09/09 TEMPLE OWLS | Rutgers leads the series 22-16. The Scarlet Knights are 3-0 since 2013 and their last series loss (17-20) dates back to 2002.
09/16 VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES | Rutgers leads the series 3-12. The Scarlet Knights lost (10-13 OT) the last meeting between schools in 2012.
09/23 @ Michigan Wolverines | Rutgers leads the series 1-8. The Scarlet Knights lost (17-52) last season’s meeting between schools and their only series win (26-24) was at the inaugural meeting between schools in 2014.
09/30 WAGNER SEAHAWKS | Last season’s 66-7 win was the first meeting between schools.
10/07 @ Wisconsin Badgers | Rutgers trails the series 0-4. The Scarlet Knights lost (3-52) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
10/14 MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS | Rutgers trails the series 4-10. The Scarlet Knights are 1-8 since 2014 and their last series win (38-27) was in 2020.
10/21 @ Indiana Hoosiers | Rutgers trails the series 4-5. The Scarlet Knights won (24-17) last season’s meeting between schools and their last series loss (21-37) was in 2020.
11/04 OHIO STATE BUCKEYES | Rutgers trails the series 0-9. The Scarlet Knights lost (10-49) last season’s meeting between schools.
11/11 @ Iowa Hawkeyes | Rutgers trails the series 0-3. The Scarlet Knights lost (10-27) last season’s meeting between schools.
11/18 @ Penn State Nittany Lions | Rutgers trails the series 2-31. The Scarlet Knights are 0-9 since 2014 and their last series win (21-16) dates back to 1988.
11/25 MARYLAND TERRIPINS | Rutgers trails the series 7-11. The Scarlet Knights are 3-6 since 2014 and their last series win (27-24 OT) was in 2020.
Predictions:
Home: 3-3
Road: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
B10: 2-7
Non-B10: 2-1
Overall: 4-8 (6th in B10 Ten East)
gridironpredictions.net 